Wednesday, November 30, 2011

CHRISTMAS KITCHEN WILL PREPARE CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR THOSE ON HARD TIMES. DONATIONS NEEDED FOR FOOD ITEMS, MONEY, AND TIME. THERE IS AN ACCOUNT SET UP AT COLONY BANK FOR DONATIONS—CHRISTMAS KITCHEN ACCOUNT.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO SERVE AND DRIVE, MOST DINNERS ARE DELIVERED. TO VOLUNTEER OR TO DONATE FOOD OR TO NOMINATE A FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL TO RECEIVE A DINNER CALL A BOARD MEMBER.

MARIA SALTER 706-648-4046,706-647-5558

RUTH HATCHETT 706-647-6957

LINDA OR RALPH BEST 706-647-5297

JOAN MCCRARY 706-647-4721

BETTY MCLEOD 706-647-5834

JULIETTE HIGHTOWER 706-741-5117

DONATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR TURKEYS, HAMS,FRIED CHICKEN, DRESSING, CASSEROLES, COOKED MAC AND CHEESE, CANNED CORN, CANNED GREEN BEANS, CRANBERRY SAUCE, DESSERT, AND ROLLS. ALL COOKED ITEMS MUST BE DELIVERED TO EAST THOMASTON BAPTIST CHURCH,206 PARK LANE ON DEC. 17 BETWEEN 8AM AND 10AM. IF YOU CANNOT COOK YOUR HAM OR TURKEY, TAKE IT TO PHILLIP FALLIN AT THOMASTON HARDWARE, SHORT E ST. BY DEC.14TH, 10AM, HAVE MEAT THAWED.

THE HOME OF JODY AND COLLINS STEWERT THAT A SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE FRIDAY IS IN UPSON COUNTY, ACCORDING TO PIKE COUNTY FIRE CHIEF MIKE GRANT. HE SAID A RE-CHECK WAS MADE ON THE PROPERTY AND A PORTION OF THEIR PROPERTY IS IN PIKE, BUT MOST IN UPSON IN THE DISTRICT OF THURSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

MAJOR DAN KILGORE UPSON S.O. SAID THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. MOLENA POLICE CHIEF JIM ROBERTS SAID A NEIGHBOR TOLD HIM A DARK-COLORED SPORTS CAR WAS SEEN HEAVING THE AREA AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.

ACCORDING TO THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, HALEY NICOLE EVANS, 16, RECEIVED A SEVERE WOUND TO HER RIGHT FOOT WHEN A 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN ACCIDENTLY DISCHARGED WHILE SHE WAS DUCK HUNTING WITH TWO OTHERS.

SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE E.R. AT URMC FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER THE ACCIDENT NEAR WALLER ROAD AND 19 NORTH.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

DISTRICT ONE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER SANDRA TRICE WHO WAS INDICTED BY THE NOVEMBER GRAND JURY , VOTED AS USUAL AT TUESDAY NIGHT’S REGULAR MEETING AND READ A STATEMENT AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING.

THE COMMISSIONER SAID SHE WILL NOT ABANDON HER POST BECAUSE OF VINDICTIVE AND UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS.

CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES WHO HAS CALLED FOR HER RESIGNATION WITH THE BACKING OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, TOLD TGA NEWS AFTER THE MEETING, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE NO LEGAL AUTHORITY IN THE MATTER. THE GOVERNOR WILL APPOINT A THREE MEMBER PANEL TO REVIEW THE CASE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. THE PANEL, WHICH WILL INCLUDE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAM OLENS WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR AND HE CAN SUSPEND, REMOVE OR TAKE NO ACTION.

Monday, November 21, 2011

ACCORDING TO BILLY MITCHAM, DIRECTOR OF THOMASTON-UPSON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, SEVERAL SIRENS MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT SOUND NOV. 16 FOR THE TORNADO WARNING. SIRENS OUT OF SERVICE---HANNAH’S MILL ROAD AT CRYSTAL HILL, AVE. G AT G CIRCLE AND 19 NORTH AT JIMMERSON ROAD. THE SIRENS WILL BE PLACED BACK IN SERVICE AS SOON AS REPAIRS CAN BE COMPLETED.

LEVIN, A STUDENT A UL SOUTH ELEMENTARY IS A FINALIST IN THE MCGRAW-HILL “WHAT MATH MEANS TO ME” ART CONTEST, AND COULD WIN $15,000 IN CLASSROOM RESOURCES FOR HIS TEACHER TINA ROGERS AND A CAKE PARTY FOR THE SCHOOL. YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ONCE AND YOU MUST BE 18 OR OLDER.

GO TO THE LINK, SIGN UP AND VOTE FOR LEVIN’S ART IN THE KINDERGARTEN CATEGORY: CARPET STORE MATH—mymath.shycast.com.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

DISTRICT ONE UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER SANDRA TRICE, RECENTLY PART OF A 39-COUNT CRIMINAL INDICTMENT BY THE UPSON GRAND JURY, ATTENDED A WORK SESSION OF THE BOARD, WEDNESDAY AND CAST VOTES ON SEVERAL ISSUES.

NO MENTION WAS MADE OF HER CIRCUMSTANCES UNTIL TGA NEWS REPORTER DAVE PIPER POSED A QUESTION TO CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES JUST BEFORE THE MEETING ENDED. RAINES ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE LAST WEEK CALLING ON COMMISSIONER TRICE TO RESIGN, AND IF NOT HE SAID HE PLANS TO SEND THE INDICTMENT TO THE GOVERNOR WHO CAN APPOINT A REVIEW PANEL THAT COULD LEAD TO SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE. PIPER ASKED THE CHAIRMAN IF HE STILL INTENDS TO INFORM GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL OF THE CASE IF THERE IS NO RESIGNATION.

CHAIRMAN RAINES RESPONDED THAT THE PRESS RELEASE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND HE WILL SEND THE CASE TO THE CAPITAL FOR REVIEW IF THERE IS NO RESIGNATION. COMMISSIONER TRICE DID NOT SPEAK.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FROM A CALLED MEETING OF THE THOMASTON-UPSON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, TUESDAY. THE GOOD NEWS, THE IDA HAS STRUCK A NEW INCENTIVE DEAL WITH QUAD GRAPHICS FOR UP TO 120 NEW JOBS OVER 10 YEARS. THE BAD NEWS, IDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR J.R. CHARLES IS RESIGNING EFFECTIVE DEC. 2ND TO ASSUME A SIMILAR POSITION IN HABERSHAM COUNTY IN NORTH GEORGIA.

Friday, November 11, 2011

THE UPSON-LEE KNIGHTS COULD ONLY MUSTER A 27 YD. FIELD GOAL FROM TYLER STEWART AND LOST AT LOVEJOY, 42-3 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE STATE PLAY-OFFS, FRIDAY ON FUN 101 FM. THE KNIGHTS FINISH THE SEASON 6-5.

LAMAR COUNTY WILL PLAY BLESSED TRINITY NEXT FRIDAY IN ROUND TWO, AFTER DEFEATING BLECKLEY COUNTY IN BARNESVILLE 35-14.

THE THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ANNOUNCED THE SYSTEM-WIDE TEACHER OF THE YEAR. BETH WALL, A SIXTH GRADE MATH TEACHER AT UPSON-LEE MIDDLE SCHOOL, IS THE 2012-13 TEACHER OF THE YEAR. SHE WAS SELECTED FOR THIS SYSTEM HONOR BY A PANEL OF SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY JUDGES. AREAS OF JUDGING INCLUDED A WRITTEN APPLICATION ,CLASSROOM OBSERVATION, AND A PERSONAL INTERVIEW. SHE WILL REPRESENT THE THOMASTON-UPSON SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE 2013 GEORGIA TEACHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

THE THOMASTON-UPSON BOARD OF EDUCATION DISCUSSED BIDS FOR A NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT TUESDAY’S REGULAR MEETING, BUT TOOK NO ACTION. MORE DISCUSSIONS AT THE NOV. 29TH MEETING.

THE LOW BID OF 6, MEJA CONSTRUCTION CO. OF JACKSON,GA. BASE BID $8.5 MILLION WHICH INCLUDES CLASSROOMS. ALTERNATE #1 NO CLASSROOMS BUT SOME DRESSING AREA , $7.650 MILLION, STILL MORE THAN SOME BOARD MEMBERS HAVE INDICATED THEY CAN SPEND IN SPLOST MONIES.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

THE NOVEMBER UPSON COUNTY GRAND JURY HAS RETURNED A 39 -COUNT TRUE BILL OF INDICTMENT BY SPECIAL PRESENTMENT ON UPSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER SANDRA TRICE AND DEBRA JONES PARKS, SECRETARY AT TRICE FUNERAL HOME. THE COUNTS INVOLVE THE SALE OF PRE-NEED BURIAL CONTRACTS AND THE FAILURE TO PUT FUNDS IN AN ESCROW ACCOUNT AS REQUIRED BY THE GA. SECRETARY OF STATE’S REGULATIONS.

UPSON COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN MAURICE RAINES RELEASED A STATEMENT CALLING ON COMMISSIONER TRICE TO STEP DOWN AS DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. CHAIRMAN RAINES SAID THE MATTER WILL NOT AFFECT THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF UPSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT. HE REQUESTED PRAYER FOR COMMISSIONER TRICE, HER FAMILY, AND THE ALLEGED VICTIMS.

IN TUESDAY’S THOMASTON CITY COUNCIL ELECTION, JIM RICHARDS EDGED SAM COKER BY TWO VOTES, 181 TO 179 FOR THE DISTRICT THREE UNEXPIRED TERM OF THE LATE ED BELL. 441 VOTES WERE CAST, A TURN-OUT OF JUST UNDER 9%. RICHARDS, A FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT OF GORDON COLLEGE IN BARNESVILLE IS EXPECTED TO BE A VOTING MEMBER OF COUNCIL AT NEXT TUESDAY’S REGULAR MEETING.

Monday, November 7, 2011

THE NOVEMBER UPSON COUNTY GRAND JURY RETURNED A TRUE BILL OF INDICTMENT FOR ONE COUNT OF THEFT OF SERVICES ON THOMASTON BUSINESSMAN RICHARD HARVILLE, MONDAY. HARVILLE OWNED AGRI-CYCLE, A COMPANY HE CLAIMED HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF THOMASTON/SOUTHWEST WATER, TO DUMP LEACHATE FROM THE TAYLOR COUNTY LANDFILL IN THE CITY’S SEWER SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO A GBI INVESTIGATION, THE COMPANY EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT IN THE AGREEMENT, AND SHORTED CITY HALL OVER $400,000.

THE NOVEMBER GRAND JURY RETURNED ALMOST 50 TRUE BILLS OF INDICTMENT TO JUDGE ROBERT MACK CRAWFORD, MONDAY. RETIRED SCHOOL SUPERINTENDANT HOWARD HENDLEY WAS GRAND JURY FOREMAN.

Friday, November 4, 2011

THE UL KNIGHTS BEAT JONES COUNTY IN GRAY , 24-12 FRIDAY NIGHT TO QUALIFY FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF THE STATE PLAY-OFFS NEXT FRIDAY AT LOVEJOY. THE KNIGHTS JUMPED OUT TO A 14-0 LEAD IN THE FIRST QUARTER, AND LEAD 21-6 AT THE HALF ON FUN 101 FM.

PIKE COUNTY ENDED THE SEASON WITH A 5-5 RECORD BLASTING SOUTHWEST IN MACON 41-0. THE PIRATES SCORED ONE TOUCHDOWN ON A 70 YARD PUNT RETURN EARLY AND BLOCKED A PUNT FOR ANOTHER SCORE ON FUN 101 FM.COM.

LAMAR COUNTY EXPECTED TO HOST BLAKELY COUNTY FRIDAY IN THE FIRST ROUND AFTER ROLLING OVER MONTICELLO 48 TO 6.— THE TROJANS UNDEFEATED.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

IN UPSON SUPERIOR COURT, THURSDAY, A DEFENDANT ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA ON THREE COUNTS, ONE A SPECIAL PRESENTMENT OF HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE. JUDGE FLETCHER SAMS SENTENCED ROBERT RYAN RIGGINS TO 13 YEARS, 4 TO SERVE , THE REMAINDER ON PROBATION, FOR THE DEATH OF TAYNA NIKOLE MCBRIDE , MAY 22ND 2010.

RIGGINS ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TO TWO OTHER COUNTS, RECKLESS DRIVING, FOR TEXTING WHILE DRIVING AND FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE. MS. MCBRIDE AND HER HUSBAND WERE RIDING MOTORCYCLES WHEN HER BIKE WAS REAR-ENDED BY RIGGINS PICK-UP ON 74 WEST.

ANOTHER DEFENDANT, BRIAN LEE HITE ENTERED A GUILTY PLEA TO BURGLARY AND WAS SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS TO SERVE BY JUDGE SAMS.

THE NOVEMBER GRAND JURY OF UPSON COUNTY CONVENES MONDAY AT THE COURTHOUSE.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

THE GA. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASED THE 2011 FINAL AYP RESULTS NOV.2, AND UPSON-LEE MIDDLE SCHOOL, UL NORTH, AND UL SOUTH HAVE ALL ACHIEVED ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS. PRELIMINARY DATA RELEASED IN JULY INDICATED THAT UL SOUTH AND NORTH HAD MET AYP CRITERIA IN ALL CATEGORIES. FINAL RESULTS ADD THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO THAT DISTINCTIVE LIST FOR MEETING AYP CRITERIA IN 12 OUT OF 12 AREAS AND ACHIEVING ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS FOR THE 2011 SCHOOL YEAR. THE FINAL AYP DETERMINATIONS WERE MADE FOLLOWING CALCULATIONS OF ALL SUMMER CRCT RETEST SCORES, SUMMER GRADUATES, AND APPEALS.

THE ANNUAL NJROTC HOLIDAY FRUIT SALE IS UNDERWAY THROUGH NOV. 16TH. TO PURCHASE HOLIDAY FRUIT, CALL UL HIGH SCHOOL NJROTC DEPARTMENT AT 706-647-6795.

THOMASTON’S CITY MANAGER PATRICK COMISKEY TOLD THE CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, IT WILL COST $100,000 TO REPAIR A COLLAPSED SEWER LINE UNDER SOUTH GREEN STREET. IT STARTED WITH A SMALL POT HOLE LAST WEDNESDAY, BUT CREWS DISCOVERED A DEEP TRENCH WHERE EROSION HAD OCCURRED. METAL PLATES FOR TRAFFIC FLOW HAVE BEEN PLACED OVER THE STREET BETWEEN JACKSON AVE. AND THURSTON AVE. , THE LINE HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE TRENCH IS BEING FILLED-IN.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

ACCORDING TO UPSON S.O. A BURGLARY REPORT AT EMMAUS PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH, 208 EMMAUS CHURCH ROAD . THE REPORT SAID SOMEONE ENTERED THE CHURCH AND AN AMP AND A PULPIT TABLE ARE MISSING. PAGES WERE TORN FROM A BIBLE AND LEFT ON THE FLOOR LEADING TO THE PULPIT. THE BUILDING WAS APPARENTLY ENTERED AFTER A LARGE CONCRETE BLOCK WAS TOSSED THROUGH A WINDOW.

CHURCH MEMBERS FOUND THE THEFT. EMMAUS PRIMITIVE BAPTIST HAD JUST REPORTED VANDALISM TO THE A.C. UNIT A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE BURGLARY WAS DISCOVERED. RURAL UPSON COUNTY CHURCHES HAVE BEEN UNDER SIEGE BY VANDALS AND THIEVES FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.